In this review, we will be comparing RP-8000F II and Q750, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-8000F II and KEF Q750 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-8000F II | KEF Q750 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-25k Hz | 48-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 98 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 15-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 28.00kg / 61.6lbs | 16.59kg / 36.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-3/16" x 10-7/8" x 17-9/16"
1097.0 x 277.0 x 447.0mm | 37-3/16" x 12-7/8" x 12-3/8"
945.0 x 328.0 x 315.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-8000F II and KEF Q750 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Klipsch RP-8000F II |
KEF Q750 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both RP-8000F II and Q750 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-8000F IIKEF Q750
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch RP-8000F II |
KEF Q750 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
RP-8000F II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1630 Hz. On the other hand, the Q750 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-8000F II has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz whereas Q750 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-8000F II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q750's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
RP-8000F II and Q750 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-8000F II sensitivity is rated at 98 dB and the Q750's is at 88 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q750, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 150 watts RMS, though RP-8000F II is rated up to 150 watts and Q750 15-150 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
RP-8000F II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q750 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-8000F II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF Q750's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-8000F II has a rear firing port whereas Q750 has a front firing ports. KEF Q750's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-8000F II with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Klipsch RP-8000F II's and KEF Q750's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-8000F II has external dimensions of 1097.0 x 277.0 x 447.0mm (43-3/16 x 10-7/8 x 17-9/16inch) whereas KEF Q750 has external dimensions of 945.0 x 328.0 x 315.0mm (37-3/16 x 12-7/8 x 12-3/8inch).
KEF Q750 is 152mm shorter and 132mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-8000F II but it is also 51mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-8000F II and KEF Q750 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-8000F II and KEF Q750 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Klipsch RP-8000F II is approximately 1238.2cm2 / 191.9inch2 and base area of the KEF Q750 is approximately 1033.2cm2 / 160.1inch2. The RP-8000F II requires 20% more surface area than the Q750 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Klipsch RP-8000F II weighs 28.00kg / 61.6lbs and the KEF Q750 weighs 16.59kg / 36.5lbs. This makes the RP-8000F II 69% heavier than the Q750.
Here is a comparison of how RP-8000F II and Q750's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-8000F II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-8000F II:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (pre-installed)
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Rubber cap (pre-installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF Q750?
Here are the items that come with the Q750:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 2 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 6 Screws
- 6 Washers
- 4 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1798USD
vs
1800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 6.25-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
945mm
vs
1097mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1033cm2
vs
1238cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II |
KEF Q750 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
15-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1097.0mm (43.2") |
945.0mm (37.2") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Depth |
447.0mm (17.6") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
28.00kg (61.6lbs) |
16.59kg (36.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Klipsch RP-8000F II is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II digs deeper - 32Hz against 48Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II is more sensitive (98dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | KEF Q750 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-8000F II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II: bi-amping and Atmos drivers; KEF Q750: Atmos drivers. Klipsch RP-8000F II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,798 vs $1,800 a pair). |
A Klipsch RP-8000F II B KEF Q750
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Klipsch RP-8000F II has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-8000F II is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.